The UK’s new van market fell for the fifth month running in April, hitting a five-year low, while the industry outlook for the full year has been revised downwards.
A total of 20,332 vans, 4x4s and pickups joined UK roads last month; down 14.9%, according to new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
It was the worst April performance since 2020. That’s in part due to the timing of Easter, but April is traditionally low for volumes after the March plate change and therefore subject to fluctuations. It also marked the fifth consecutive month of falling demand due to weak business confidence.
Demand for new vans of all sizes was down but large vans fell the most, dropping 22.9% to 12,113 units, albeit still representing almost six in 10 (59.6%) new LCVs.
Deliveries of medium and small new vans also fell, by 5.8% and 5.5% to 4,344 and 571 units respectively.
The downturn was softened by growth in new 4x4s, up 19.2% to 564 units.
Meanwhile, registrations of pickups rose for the second consecutive month, by 10.2% to 2,740 units – likely reflecting the fulfilment of orders placed before the arrival of new rules treating double-cabs as cars for Benefit-in-Kind and capital allowance purposes. The SMMT continues to call for the tax change to be delayed to give industry, businesses and customers more time.
The SMMT also issued its latest market outlook, which expects the new LCV market to fall by 4.3% to 337,000 units in 2025, almost 11,000 units fewer than expected in January, due to a more challenging economic setting and changes in vehicle taxation.
More positively, the April registration figures show demand for new battery electric vans (BEVs) weighing up to 4.25 tonnes grew for the seventh month running, surging by 77.5% to 1,686 units, representing 8.3% of the market – up 4.3 percentage points on the same month last year but still representing just half the 16% market share mandated in 2025.
And the latest industry outlook predicts that the overall BEV share (up to 3.5 tonnes) will end the year at just 9.1% before reaching 13.3% in 2026 – considerably below mandated targets of 16% and 24% this year and next.
The SMMT said the figures show that fleet operators need further action to switch to EVs sooner, alongside the extended Plug-in Van Grant.
It also called again for the action to ease the current gridlock on grid connection procedures, which means van operators may have wait up to 15 years for depot charging connections – past the sector’s 2035 end-of-sale date.
The industry body has urged for more commercial vehicle-specific public charging infrastructure across the UK’s strategic road network – along with more affordable energy and consistent, efficient implementation of local planning policy.
Given the Government’s recent announcement that it will fast-track grid connections for data centres, wind farms and solar power installations, prioritisation must also be given to transport depots so that fleet operators can be confident to go zero-emission sooner rather than later.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Switching must have clear commercial benefits, so the sector needs bold and assertive action if ambitious mandate targets are to be met. Preferential treatment for grid connections, more affordable energy and consistent local planning – all are needed to make the case for going electric unarguable.”
Sue Robinson, chief executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said the downturn in April showed the impact of the recent tax changes in the new fiscal year and the challenging economic environment.
She went on: “A key takeaway should be the growth of electric van sales in spite of April’s tax changes which could have discouraged confidence in the transition to electric vehicles.
“NFDA welcomed the Government’s recent decision to extend petrol and diesel van and light commercial sales allowances until 2035 – an outcome the NFDA strongly advocated for in its response to the Zero Emission Vans consultation.
“It is important to note that pickups saw an increase for the second consecutive month, as consumers looked to purchase ahead of Benefit-in-Kind changes that now see double-cab pickups taxed as cars.”
